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Roads, railways support needed for airport upgrades — analysts
Here’s a quick share on an article on the infrastructure needed to support airport development:
Source: Roads, railways support needed for airport upgrades — analysts
Unlike many capital airports including Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Ninoy Aquino International Airport does not have rail or mass transit access. It will eventually have rail access via the currently under construction Metro Manila Subway. The airport construction in Bulacan should also have transit access in order to make it more accessible to passengers and other airport users. Railways will provide an alternative to road-based transport that would probably require much road space and likely lead to congestion just like what we experience around NAIA at present.
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Increase in parking rates at NAIA
A friend shared this notice about the increase in parking rates at NAIA.
Parking at any of the terminals has been quite difficult if not horrendous. Everyone seems to be bringing their car to the airport for pick up and drop offs as well as leaving them for a night or more while traveling abroad or somewhere in the country. And then there are those who park there because the rates are supposed to be cheaper than the hotels and mall around the airport (e.g., the case of Terminal 3). Will the increase in the rates discourage unwanted or unnecessary parking? Perhaps not because people are still quite dependent on cars as their primary mode in and out of NAIA.
Access to the airport remains road-dependent. Granted there are many options like ride hailing, airport bus and taxis, these are all road based. They share the same roads that are often congested. The tollways are not enough to ease traffic in the area, which aside from airport generated trips include those from offices and industries in the area.
Too long has the need for a rail access for the terminals and government has failed to provide it. It would at least have engaged private sector for this provision but it took so long. Perhaps the Metro Manila subway will change that but we have to wait a long while to find out.
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What’s new in Panglao Airport? -Part 1
We were in Panglao, Bohol last April and I was disappointed to see there were no shops after entering the pre departure area. Also, there were only 2 kiosks inside. One selling the usual siomai, hotdog and noodles kind of food and the other operated by a popular hotel/resort.
I am glad that this time, there are more shops and eating options after the final security check.
More on these new shops and stalls in the next post.
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On the impact of more frequent lightning strikes on airports
We were waiting for our plane to arrive at the airport yesterday and can’t help but observe the heavy rains falling while a strong wind blows and causes the rains to fall at an angle. This renders umbrellas to be ineffective in keeping you dry if you’re outdoors. Such weather requires a long coat or even overalls to keep one dry on a very wet day. The rains and wind were brought about by a storm affecting the area. Though distant, the storm was able to influence the weather. Fortunately, there wasn’t any lightning and we wondered if lightning strikes have affected ground crew working in an open area that makes them vulnerable to lightning strikes. Here is an interesting article that describes the threat of lightning strikes particularly to people on the ground at airports.
King, R.E. (September 11, 2024) “Increasing Lightning Strikes from Stronger Storms Could Cripple Airports and Airbases,” Jalopnik, https://jalopnik.com/increasing-lightning-strikes-from-stronger-storms-could-1851645799 [Last accessed: 9/16/2024]
Quoting from the article:
“While flying planes are hardened to withstand lightning strikes, airports are typically a cluster of free-standing structures on a flat, open plot of land. The ongoing increase in lightning strikes caused by climate change is a direct danger to facilities and people on the ground.”
I wonder about similar data or statistics in the Philippines considering the long wet season we have that includes not just threats from typhoons but from seemingly small weather systems that may involve lightning strikes. I recall operations at NAIA were halted a few times when there were lightning storms. Is this phenomena. I wonder how many incidents at our airports have been reported and recorded pertaining to lightning.
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Back in Iloilo
I’m finally back in Iloilo after a very long while. It’s a quick visit so I won’t be able to go to our ancestral home in Cabatuan. The visit to the city though will still be a sentimental one and perhaps update me on the developments there.
I will be posting on this trip soon as I plan to take photos of the bike facilities along the Diversion Road and walk along the Esplanade.
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Some aerial photos as we approached Panglao
Here are a few more photos from our plane as we journeyed to Bohol last week. This time, it is from the approach to Panglao. I was expecting the approach for the plane to pass above Cebu. I was rewarded with the following photos:
Mactan Cebu International Airport as seen from our plane making its approach to Panglao Airport
A view of the islands off Mactan and between Cebu and Bohol. There was a view of Olango Island but I wasn’t able to take a photo.
A quick shot of some of the hills at Bohol Island. I am not sure these are the Chocolate Hills but the formation, the geology is the same as the heritage site’s.
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Self check-in and self bag-drop at NAIA Terminal 3
In addition to the self check-in terminals, Cebu Pacific now has self bag drop booths at NAIA Terminal 3. These are easy to use and may lead to quicker processing of passengers. They have staff ready to assist in case passengers encounter some difficulty using the self bag drop terminals.
We’ll probably see these terminals in other airports particularly the major ones like Cebu, Davao and Clark. It is a convenience and also reduces the need for staff manning the check-in counters.
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Back in Bangkok
We’re back in one of our happy places to be in again. Bangkok’s been one of our favorite destinations since the 2000’s. There was a time when we were here twice a year. Those trips were mostly business, actually academic-related as from 2001 to 2008 we had collaborative research network among ASEAN Universities hosted by Chulalongkorn University. I’ve returned several times after but the last time I was in Bangkok was in 2018 for a seminar on road safety. This is the first time we are in Bangkok with our daughter (her second ASEAN country) so we’re only very happy to share with her the experiences in Thailand.
Clearing immigration at Suvarnabhumi Airport
Where to and how to get there? We decided to take the airport taxi to our hotel.
Marveling at the spacious terminal.
I will post about Bangkok and transport in Thailand in the next posts probably after we return from this trip.
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Taxi services at NAIA Terminal 2
The previous post on NAIA Terminal 2 featured photos of taxi or ride share services at the airport. Coupon Taxis are the most expensive option for travelers as they have the highest rates. Often, these are even higher than vehicle rental rates. These rates are shown to prospective customers though so I can’t really understand why people go for this option and then slam it for being expensive. The information is provided there so accepting the terms means you understand and accept the rates. Perhaps they didn’t have other options?
There is a Grab stand at the terminal. I assume that since Grab is quite popular at least in Southeast Asia (even taking over Uber’s share), then travelers who likely have smart phones should have the app and be able to book a ride using it. This might be the best option for those on the go.
There is also a regular taxi stand at the airport terminal so that is another option. Unfortunately, one will likely have to haggle with the drivers for the fare. Other drivers might use their meters but will suggest or solicit tips from their passengers.
There is no rail service for the NAIA Terminals but there is an airport bus, UBE Express, that travelers can take to go to major CBDs like Cubao, Ortigas and Manila or perhaps to major terminals like PITX or the Victory Liner Terminal in Pasay City.
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What’s new at NAIA Terminal 2
NAIA’s Terminal 2 now only serves domestic flights. It currently hosts Philippine Airlines and Air Asia flights to major cities. I haven’t been to the parking area or had the opportunity to go around the terminal’s arrival area for some time now. I used to go to NAIA frequently the time when my wife was a frequent international traveler with her former office. If she had trips to the US West Coast (e.g., Los Angeles or San Francisco) she would likely take the direct flights via Philippine Airlines.
Minute Burger at the kiosk near what was the international (North) wing of NAIA Terminal 2
What used to be a Figaro branch at one end of the terminal is now Seattle’s Best Coffee
The arrival level driveway at the terminal
Coupon taxi stand at the terminal
Grab station at the NAIA Terminal 2 arrival level driveway
There is a Denny’s at the other end of the terminal. There used to be no restaurant or cafe at what was the domestic (South) wing of the terminal.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, I haven’t been able to go around the NAIA terminals aside from the usual departure and arrival areas when I’m traveling. So this one Sunday that I picked up my father as he returned from Iloilo, I took advantage and took photos to share here.
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Caught (up) in traffic 